Association Of N-Acetylaspartate And Cerebrospinal Fluid A Beta(42) In Dementia

The interplay of amyloid and mitochondrial function is considered crucial in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We tested the association of the putative marker of mitochondrial function N-acetylaspartate (NAA) as measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy within the medial temporal lobe and cerebrospinal fluid amyoid-beta(42) (A beta(42)), total Tau and pTau181. 109 patients were recruited in a multicenter study (40 mild AD patients, 14 non-AD dementia patients, 29 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) AD-type patients, 26 MCI of non-AD type patients). NAA correlated with A beta(42) within the AD group. Since the NAA concentration is coupled to neuronal mitochondrial function, the correlation between NAA and A beta(42) may reflect the interaction between disrupted mitochondrial pathways and amyloid production.